Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains
One of the densest black bear populations in the eastern United States, and for a lot of visitors the moment the trip becomes memorable. Here's where to look, how close is too close, and what to do when one turns up at your cabin.
The Great Smokies hold one of the densest black bear populations in the eastern United States — and for a lot of visitors, seeing one is the moment the trip becomes memorable.
They're genuinely everywhere here, including in the resort communities where the cabins are. That's part of the appeal and part of the responsibility. Here's where to look for them, and how to behave when you find one — or when one finds you.
Life in the Smokies
Black bears here typically weigh between 100 and 300 pounds, though large males can approach 500. They're omnivores, eating berries, nuts, insects, small mammals, and plant material depending on the season.
In autumn they enter hyperphagia — a period of near-constant eating to build fat reserves before winter. That's when they're most active and most visible, which is one reason fall is the best sighting season.
Through winter they enter torpor, a lighter state than true hibernation, denning in hollow trees, caves, and under rock outcroppings. They can and do wake and move around during warm spells.
Despite their size, they climb and swim well, which is worth remembering if you're imagining a bear can't get somewhere.
Where to see them
Bears range throughout the park, but a few places offer consistently better odds because of habitat and food.
Cades Cove
The best bear-viewing in the park, and it isn't close. An eleven-mile one-way loop around a broad valley ringed by mountains, with open meadows and forest edges that make ideal foraging ground.
Early morning and late evening are the productive windows — bears are most active in the cooler parts of the day. You'll see them crossing the road, grazing in the fields, or up in trees. Deer, wild turkeys, and coyotes are common here too.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
A five-and-a-half mile one-way loop near Gatlinburg, denser and more wooded than Cades Cove. The forest and streams make good bear habitat, and they're regularly seen foraging near the road or climbing.
Newfound Gap Road
Higher elevation, and a scenic drive in its own right. Bears cross the road and forage in the adjacent woods, again most often early morning or late afternoon.
Sightings are never guaranteed. Go early, drive slowly, and treat any sighting as luck rather than an entitlement — that mindset also happens to be the safe one.
Watching bears safely
The National Park Service requires visitors to remain at least 50 yards from bears. Willfully approaching within that distance is illegal, and rangers do cite for it.
If you encounter one: stay calm, don't approach, don't run, and back away slowly to give it room. Never get between a bear and its cubs, and never position yourself for a photo you'd have to move closer to take.
Feeding bears is strictly prohibited and is the single worst thing a visitor can do. A bear that associates people with food becomes a danger to everyone and usually ends up being destroyed. The park's phrase for it is blunt and accurate: a fed bear is a dead bear.
Bears at your cabin
This is the part most bear guides skip, and it matters more than the sightseeing. Cabin communities in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Wears Valley sit in bear habitat, and bears come through regularly.
- Never leave food, trash, or coolers outside — not on the deck, not overnight, not for five minutes
- Lock your vehicle. Bears open unlocked car doors, and they've learned that coolers live in cars
- Take trash to the bins promptly and make sure the lid closes properly
- Never feed a bear, deliberately or by leaving something out
- Don't approach one that's on the property. Go inside, watch from a window, and let it move on
- Keep grills clean — residue is as attractive as fresh food
A bear that finds food at a cabin comes back, and keeps coming back, until it becomes a problem for every guest after you. Our rental policies cover this, and guests who leave food or trash unsecured in a way that attracts wildlife may be charged additional cleaning or damage fees.
When you're most likely to see one
- Fall — hyperphagia makes autumn the peak season, and it coincides with the best foliage. September through November is prime
- Spring — bears emerging from torpor are active and hungry, and cubs appear alongside sows
- Summer — sightings continue, though bears retreat to shade in the heat of the day. Early and late are the windows
- Winter — least likely, though warm spells bring bears out of dens
Frequently asked questions
How many black bears live in the Smokies?
The park supports one of the densest black bear populations in the eastern United States. Population estimates are published by the National Park Service and revised periodically.
Where's the best place to see one?
Cades Cove, by a wide margin. Go at first light or in the last hour before dusk and drive the loop slowly.
How close can I get?
No closer than 50 yards. That's a legal requirement in the national park, not a guideline, and approaching closer can result in a citation.
What do I do if a bear is at my cabin?
Go inside and watch from a window. Don't approach it, don't try to scare it off, and don't photograph it from close range. It will move on. Make sure nothing outside is attracting it.
Are black bears dangerous?
They generally avoid people and attacks are rare. The risk rises sharply when bears become food-conditioned, which is why the rules about food and trash exist — the danger is almost always created by human behavior rather than the bear's.
Can I bring my dog to look for bears?
Dogs aren't permitted on most park trails, and they aren't a good idea around bears regardless. Cades Cove Loop Road is driveable with a dog in the vehicle. See our pet-friendly cabins.
What time of year is best?
Fall, when bears are feeding heavily before winter. It also happens to be the best time for foliage, which makes for a good trip either way.
Bear country is the whole point of staying in a cabin rather than a room in town — you're in it rather than looking at it. Browse our Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Wears Valley cabins, or start with cabins near the national park and cabins with mountain views. Coming in autumn? See fall cabin rentals. Check the current specials, or use the vacation planner to plan the trip.